FARMER VETERAN COALITIONhttp://www.farmvetco.org
FVCTue, 26 Sep 2017 20:06:56 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference Updatehttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/09/14/farmer-veteran-stakeholders-conference-update/
Thu, 14 Sep 2017 15:35:32 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6219With a busy calendar of events launching chapters and Homegrown By Heroes partnerships this fall, FVC will not be hosting a national Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference this fall. We are working now on plans for our next conference in November 2018. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

]]>With a busy calendar of events launching chapters and Homegrown By Heroes partnerships this fall, FVC will not be hosting a national Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference this fall. We are working now on plans for our next conference in November 2018. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

]]>FVC Launches VA, West VA, NY Chapters, Announces Three More By End of Yearhttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/09/13/chapter-launch/
Wed, 13 Sep 2017 22:03:41 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6213James McCormick is a man of many titles. He’s a decorated Army veteran, a minister, a father of eight—including two serving their country in the armed forces—and owner of Raising Cane Farms in rural West Virginia. James is also director of his state’s Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program, the first state-backed program of its […]

]]>James McCormick is a man of many titles. He’s a decorated Army veteran, a minister, a father of eight—including two serving their country in the armed forces—and owner of Raising Cane Farms in rural West Virginia.

James is also director of his state’s Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program, the first state-backed program of its type in the country. And now he has a new title: president of Farmer Veteran Coalition of West Virginia—one of six new state chapters that are launching this year.

James and the West Virginia chapter join New York and Virginia as the latest states to launch chapters, while Indiana, Texas and Washington will launch chapters later this year. In addition to the state chapters formed in Virginia and West Virginia, both states announced partnerships between their departments of agriculture and the Homegrown By Heroes label.

With these latest announcements FVC will have a total of nine state chapters—Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia—and 20 state partnerships with the Homegrown By Heroes label.

“We are really excited about these chapters. There is so much work that can be done well on a more local level, and they will allow a lot more veterans to get directly involved in more FVC activities,” said FVC Director Michael O’Gorman. “We will hold the chapters to these nine, at least for a while, and give ourselves some time to learn how best to help them serve the veterans in their local area.”

Retired Army veteran John Fant will lead the FVC of Virginia chapter and brings a wealth of experience to the coalition. After a 27-year career in the Army in which he rose to the rank of colonel, John returned home to his family’s farm in 2013, Summerfield Heritage Farm in Independence, Virginia, where he runs a grass-fed and grass-finished cattle operation.

The Virginia chapter and Homegrown By Heroes state partnership were announced July 26 at an event held at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Agriculture Basil Gooden and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Sandy Adams were present at the event, highlighting the importance of the partnership for the state’s agricultural and veteran communities.

“Our military veterans have selflessly served the Commonwealth and our nation, and providing them with a way to differentiate their agricultural products in the marketplace makes good business sense,” Governor McAuliffe said to attendees. “By offering these heroes new resources to develop and market their farm businesses, we will ensure economic opportunities for them to support their families and stay in the Commonwealth, while contributing to this $70 billion local industry.

A few weeks later on August 14, the New York chapter held its inaugural meeting at the offices of New York Farm Bureau in Albany. The New York chapter is also led by a retired Army colonel, John Lemondes, who after a nearly 28-year career in the Army started Elly’s Acres Farm in Jamestown, New York, where he breeds sheep and produces maple syrup and honey. The chapter also includes leaders from NY Farm Bureau, Farm Credit East, NY Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Cornell University. A public launch will take place November 29 with more details to be announced soon.

Two days later on August 16, the West Virginia chapter and Homegrown By Heroes state partnership were launched when Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhard signed the agreement during the West Virginia Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture stakeholder meeting held August 16 at the State Fair of West Virginia.

“We know with this brand our veterans can sell their product in any market within the United States. This agreement gives West Virginia vets a competitive edge they did not have before,” said Leonhard. “Our mission has always been to help open new markets to our producers, especially our veterans.”

Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming launch of the Texas, Washington and Indiana state chapters as well as future partnerships between the Homegrown By Heroes label and state departments of agriculture.

]]>Homegrown By Heroes Label Surpasses 1,000 Certified-Producers, 20 State Partnershttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/06/29/hbh1000/
Thu, 29 Jun 2017 22:35:36 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6182Before the Homegrown By Heroes label was established by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in January 2013, there wasn’t an industry recognized way for farmer veterans to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. A few short years later, with a rapidly growing farmer veteran community spanning all 50 states plus Puerto Rico, Farmer Veteran Coalition is […]

]]>Before the Homegrown By Heroes label was established by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in January 2013, there wasn’t an industry recognized way for farmer veterans to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. A few short years later, with a rapidly growing farmer veteran community spanning all 50 states plus Puerto Rico, Farmer Veteran Coalition is excited to announce the Homegrown By Heroes label has surpassed 1,000 certified-producers.

Marine veteran Daniel Wavle became the 1,000th Homegrown By Heroes member on June 8 when he certified his operation, Shoshana Shalom Farms in Hondo, Texas, with the label. Wavle, who served more than 14 years in the Marines which included two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, currently raises goats and chickens and is in the process of building an aquaponics greenhouse for vegetable and tilapia production.

Wavle was also awarded a 2017 Farmer Veteran Fellowship thanks to generous support from the Bob Woodruff Foundation which he will use to purchase irrigation equipment that will allow him to move large volumes of water up a significant rise in elevation on his property. He expects the irrigation equipment will supply his farm’s water needs for the next ten years.

“Getting Homegrown By Heroes certified is going to make a huge difference at the farmers’ markets we attend,” said Daniel, who grew up working on his uncle’s dairy farm in South Carolina. “We’re out in Texas and military service is a big thing.”

Available to farmers, ranchers, fishermen and value-added producers of all branches and eras of military service, the Homegrown By Heroes label is an agricultural food label that informs consumers a product was produced by a veteran.

Farmer Veteran Coalition assumed stewardship of the label on Veterans Day, 2013 and began administering the label nationally. In the past year, the Homegrown By Heroes label has seen exponential growth. Since May of 2016, the number of certified producers has more than doubled.

“It takes a big effort to get a new label recognized in the marketplace,” said FVC Director Michael O’Gorman. “Now that we have 1,000 producers with more than $50 million in aggregate annual sales, we hope to see even faster growth.”

In addition to certifying the 1,000th HBH member, the state Departments of Agriculture in Virginia, Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico and Alaska have all signed up to promote the label in their states. Of the 20 states that now partner with FVC to promote HBH, 14 have developed merged labels which combines artwork from the state’s own ‘Buy Local’ logo with the Homegrown By Heroes logo.

Virginia which will host an announcement event July 24 at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm to unveil the new merged logo and launch the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Virginia state chapter. To attend the event, please RSVP by visiting http://www.farmvetco.org/vahbh/

]]>Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund Announces $200,000 in New Awards; $1.5 million since 2011http://www.farmvetco.org/2017/06/13/2017fvff/
Tue, 13 Jun 2017 21:30:03 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6166Military veterans turned farmers from around the country received a major boost today as Farmer Veteran Coalition announced $200,000 in new awards for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. Fifty farmer veterans representing all military branches and multiple service-eras were notified via email that they were awarded a 2017 Fellowship, bringing the total amount awarded in […]

]]>Military veterans turned farmers from around the country received a major boost today as Farmer Veteran Coalition announced $200,000 in new awards for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. Fifty farmer veterans representing all military branches and multiple service-eras were notified via email that they were awarded a 2017 Fellowship, bringing the total amount awarded in the program’s history to more than $1.5 million.

Established in 2011, the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund provides direct assistance to veterans who are in the early stages of their farming operations. With awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, purchases are made to third-parties on behalf of the veteran for critical items such as breeding livestock, used tractors, greenhouses, irrigation systems and more. This year’s awards range from supplies to build a barn for Army veteran Michael Reynolds in Georgia to an egg washer for Air Force veteran Nathan Layton in Pennsylvania.

“As the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting veterans embarking on careers in agriculture, it’s always a great pleasure to provide this much-needed assistance to our veterans,” said Rachel Petitt, who manages the Fellowship Fund. “A Fellowship award can have a huge impact on a farmer veteran by not only providing them with much needed equipment, but also by letting them know we’re here to help them grow their farm business.”

Demand for the Fellowship was extremely competitive this year with a record 270 farmer veterans completing applications. Awardees were selected by a voluntary team of seasoned farm advisors and lenders. Criteria included: farm training/experience; personal investment in their farm business; a clear need for assistance; and their vision and goals for the future of their farm business.

By applying for a Fellowship, applicants are automatically entered in the Geared to Give program—a partnership between Kubota Tractor Corporation and FVC. Four veterans will each be selected to receive a Kubota L-Series compact tractor this Fall. Since it was established in 2015, the program has awarded seven Kubota tractors to FVC members.

Though the Fellowship had to turn away a large number of farmer veterans this year, more awards could be distributed throughout the year as additional funding becomes available. “We can’t make any guarantees, but we’re always trying to award as many farmer veterans as possible,” said Petitt.

]]>Women Farmer Veterans Unite at 4th Empowering Women Veterans Conferencehttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/05/18/ewvc4/
Thu, 18 May 2017 21:06:52 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6082Women farmer veterans from around the nation came together in California’s wine country May 3-5 for the fourth annual Empowering Women Veterans: Business, Agriculture, Well-Being Conference held at the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, California. The goal of the conference was to bring women farmer veterans together and equip them with the […]

]]>Women farmer veterans from around the nation came together in California’s wine country May 3-5 for the fourth annual Empowering Women Veterans: Business, Agriculture, Well-Being Conference held at the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, California.

The goal of the conference was to bring women farmer veterans together and equip them with the business and farming tools necessary to be successful in their agricultural endeavors. During the conference, attendees participated in educational workshops, roundtable discussions, listened to distinguished guest speakers, toured a local farm and took advantage of the resort’s impressive facilities to network with their fellow farmer veterans.

“I love our Women’s Conference, not just for the information sharedm but the community of friends that always grows out of it,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “This year it was especially exciting to see women who came to us six and seven years ago as beginning farmers now giving the classes!”

Kicking-off with a welcome reception on the evening of May 3, the conference got into full-swing on the second day which was highlighted by educational workshops and inspiring speeches from keynote speakers Karen Ross, who serves as Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and disabled Army veteran Mickey Willenbring of Dot Ranch in Scio, Oregon.

This year, the educational workshops were divided into two tracks based on experience level. The Beginning Farmer Track covered the most important information an aspiring farmer veteran needs to know before starting a farm with topics ranging from business plans and financing to resources and veterans benefits. The Established Farmer Track covered more advanced topics such as land conservation, crop insurance, marketing and time management.

During the evening reception Secretary Ross addressed the audience by delivering an uplifting message to women farmer veterans about the resilience it takes to succeed in the male-dominated profession of farming. And Mickey closed the evening with a moving presentation chronicling the adversity she faced as a soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom and her path to farming Navajo-Churro sheep.

On the final day of the conference, the contingent got an up-close look at livestock, vegetable and vinicultural production as they toured Santa Rosa Junior College’s nearby Shone Farm, offering a glimpse into the rich agricultural heritage of the region.

Farmer veterans who attended the conference said holding the event is important because it helps foster a community of like-minded women veteran farmers. Retired Navy veteran Lovay Wallace-Singleton underscored this importance by coming to the conference despite her busy schedule.

“I had a lot going on at home, but I really wanted to come and sit with some veterans that are doing what I’m doing and learn something about their experience,” said Lovay, who runs the Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden in New Bern, North Carolina. “For women farmers, it’s totally different. It makes a difference when you come to a conference like this and there’s other women there that you can talk to about the challenges you face.”

For Army veteran Rebeca Nolan, who owns and operates Dusty Hound Farms in Tetonia, Idaho, the conference was a great opportunity to network with women farmer veterans from around the country.

“Within minutes of talking to someone here, you just kind of click,” Rebeca said, who traded in a career as a project manager at an engineering company in New York to farm full time. “It’s like you both know the same language; you both have the same experiences. It’s really awesome. At first everyone’s a stranger, but after 10 minutes you’re best pals.”

Slides from each speaker’s presentation can be found by clicking here. Stay tuned for announcements about the date and location for next year’s Empowering Women Veterans Conference.

]]>FVC Hosts First Veteran Career Fair at CSU Fresnohttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/05/18/career-fair/
Thu, 18 May 2017 21:06:49 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6102Agriculturally focused veterans and more than 20 employers from the public and private sector came together April 19 at the Farmer Veteran Coalition Veteran Career Fair held at California State University, Fresno, to introduce veterans to career opportunities throughout California’s $47 billion agricultural industry. “California produces most of our fruits and vegetables: 99 percent of […]

]]>Agriculturally focused veterans and more than 20 employers from the public and private sector came together April 19 at the Farmer Veteran Coalition Veteran Career Fair held at California State University, Fresno, to introduce veterans to career opportunities throughout California’s $47 billion agricultural industry.

“California produces most of our fruits and vegetables: 99 percent of artichokes, 99 percent of walnuts, 97 percent of kiwis, 97 percent of plums, 95 percent of celery, 95 percent of garlic, 89 percent of cauliflower, 71 percent of spinach, 69 percent of carrots, and the list goes on,” said FVC Program and Development Manager Randy Ryan, who coordinated the event.

United States Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, AgrAbility and Food Commons Fresno, were among the employers who met with veterans to educate them on career paths within their organization as well as how their services can assist those who are seeking self-employment by starting their own farming operation.

“We met a lot of veterans at our Career Fair–some who grew up around farms and others who were brand new to it–that will be great assets to our agricultural industry,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “They’re able to combine Ag degrees and tech savvy with the work ethic and determination they got through their military service.”

One such employer, Farm Credit, was on hand to discuss their open positions while also providing information about the various types of loans available to veterans who are seeking capital to start their own farm.

Veterans who attended the career fair represented a wide-range of service eras and goals for their farming careers. Vietnam-era Army veteran Derek Robinson came to the event to learn about services available to him for his farming operation. Robinson, a Madera City Councilmember, wasn’t previously familiar with FVC, but is looking forward to becoming Homegrown By Heroes certified and applying for a Farmer Veteran Fellowship in the future.

For attendee Neil Morgan, who served two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the Coast Guard, the career fair was an opportunity to see what kind of employment opportunities might be on the horizon after finishing his degree in mechanical engineering at Fresno State.

“I like to keep abreast of what’s going on in the ag employment world,” said Morgan. “Mechanical engineering touches the agricultural industry in a number of areas, so I wanted to see what opportunities might be available to me when I graduate.”

The fair, which was made possible thanks to a grant provided by the Safeway Foundation and support from Farm Credit, was the first of four events planned in California through 2018. Details for the next Veteran Career Fair will be announced in the coming weeks.

]]>Farmer Veteran Coalition to Host Career Fair at CSU Fresnohttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/04/05/farmer-veteran-coalition-host-career-fair-csu-fresno/
Wed, 05 Apr 2017 15:16:50 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6008Building on its mission of mobilizing veterans to feed America, Farmer Veteran Coalition, a national nonprofit organization that assists military veterans embark on careers in agriculture, will host a Veteran Career Fair April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union aboard California State University, Fresno. As the national unemployment rate […]

]]>Building on its mission of mobilizing veterans to feed America, Farmer Veteran Coalition, a national nonprofit organization that assists military veterans embark on careers in agriculture, will host a Veteran Career Fair April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union aboard California State University, Fresno.

As the national unemployment rate among veterans continues to climb, the Farmer Veteran Coalition Career Fair will bring together job-seeking veterans with representatives from agricultural-related employers and government agencies. Employers representing growers, packers, shippers, farm equipment distributors, and more, will be on-hand to accept resumes and discuss career opportunities with their organizations.

“Veterans are looking for careers that are dynamic, lucrative and meaningful. Agriculture in California offers all three,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “We want veterans to see the wide range of exciting career paths throughout our industry. And we want agricultural employers to see the skills, the work ethic and the strong personal character that veterans can bring to their operations.”

The Farmer Veteran Coalition Career Fair is designed to introduce veterans to the wide array of exciting career opportunities throughout California’s $47 billion agricultural industry. Attendees will learn about well-paying employment prospects in both the public and private sector, support for their own farming ventures, and the schools and training programs that will prepare them for either employment or self-employment in agriculture. All veterans, and those who support veterans, will benefit from attending.

“Farmers and veterans share many of the same qualities,” said Cory Lunde, director of strategic initiatives and communications, Western Growers Association. “Both are hard-working and equally dedicated to serving our country. On behalf of the farmers who grow more than half of the nation’s fresh produce, Western Growers supports the opportunity to connect our heroes on the battlefield with our heroes in the agricultural fields.”

Veterans and employers who would like more information or to register for a booth should contact Randy Ryan by calling (530) 379-2292 or emailing randy@farmvetco.org.

]]>The Safeway Foundation Awards $50,000 to Farmer Veteran Coalitionhttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/04/04/safeway-foundation-awards-50000-farmer-veteran-coalition/
Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:38:30 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=6015DAVIS, CA (April 4, 2017) – The Safeway Foundation announced that its Veterans campaign, an in-store fundraising effort aimed to improve the lives of Veterans and their families, awarded more than a half million dollars to fund Veterans programs in the neighborhoods throughout Northern California. The gift to Farmer Veteran Coalition will fund two Food […]

]]>DAVIS, CA (April 4, 2017) – The Safeway Foundation announced that its Veterans campaign, an in-store fundraising effort aimed to improve the lives of Veterans and their families, awarded more than a half million dollars to fund Veterans programs in the neighborhoods throughout Northern California. The gift to Farmer Veteran Coalition will fund two Food and Farming Career Fairs as well as internships or scholarships to learn organic farming at Jacobs Farm in San Jose, California.

“We are delighted to have a partner like the Safeway Foundation and appreciate their leadership,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “The Food and Farming Career Fairs will expose veterans in California to the wide range of high-paying opportunities in the state. There is a shortage at all levels and our veterans deserve a chance to continue to serve by feeding their neighbors,” O’Gorman continued. “The work we do in San Jose provides veterans with practical experience in organics. In the first year of the internship program, all seven of the interns have found full-time employment in agriculture.”

The funds were raised through an in-store fundraiser last November at Safeway stores throughout Northern California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii. The week-long fundraiser generated donations from customers and employees at the check stands. The funding is focused to support programs that assist Veterans as they gain access to civilian employment, provide access to health care and support groups for Veterans and their families, and support the families of fallen Veterans.

“We take great pride in supporting Veterans in the communities we serve and working with organizations that assist Veterans. We believe that their sacrifice and service should be honored and we aim to ease the transition back into civilian life,” said Wendy Gutshall, The Safeway Foundation. “We are grateful for the generous contributions during the Veterans fundraiser and the opportunity to help Veterans.”

Regional charities located in areas where Safeway operates were invited to respond to Requests for Proposals. Farmer Veteran Coalition was awarded $50,000 for Food and Farming Career Fairs and Veteran Farming Internships. The Internships or scholarships are awarded to veterans to learn organic farming on Jacobs Farm in San Jose. During a four-month internship, veterans learn everything about farming: soil choice/preparation and seed selection, water resource needs, row/crop management, tool requirements and care, planting optimization, cultivation/pruning, harvesting, storage, packaging, marketing and sales.

There will be two Food and Farming Career Fairs in California in 2017 thanks to this grant. The first will be on the campus of Fresno State University on Wednesday, April 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The second will be held in Northern California in the fall.

More information about the Safeway Foundation and the causes the foundation supports is available at www.safewayfoundation.org

About the Safeway Foundation
Founded in 2001, the Safeway Foundation supports causes that impact our customers’ lives. Safeway stores provide the opportunity to mobilize funding and create awareness in our neighborhoods through the generous contributions by our customers, our employees’ passion and partnerships with our vendors. We focus on giving locally in the areas of Health and Human Services, Hunger, Youth and Education, Veterans and Supporting Diversity and Inclusion of All Abilities. For more information about the Safeway Foundation, visit www.safewayfoundation.org. The Safeway Foundation is a part of the national Albertsons Companies Foundation.

For more information about the Food and Farming Career Fairs, contact Randy Ryan at randy@farmvetco.org or call (530) 379-2292.

]]>Starting a Farm From Scratch – Part 3: Intro to Business Planninghttp://www.farmvetco.org/2017/03/20/starting-farm-scratch-part-3-intro-business-planning/
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 15:52:06 +0000http://www.farmvetco.org/?p=5999PowerPoint slides can be viewed and downloaded by clicking the links below. Due to size restrictions, we had to separate it into three files. View/Download the slides: Part 3 – Slides 1-9 Part 3 – Slides 10-18 Part 3 – Slides 19-26 Download the Farm Cash Flow Spreadsheet: Cash Flow Budgeting, Managing Debt